ICU Overflow

Author:
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
American Association of Critical Care Nurses
American Society of Anesthesiologists
Anesthesia Care Team Committee
Committee on Critical Care Medicine and Trauma Medicine

Issue: A Phase 1 postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is a critical care area providing postanesthesia nursing care for patients immediately after operative and invasive procedures prior to discharge to the Phase II ambulatory setting, the in-patient surgical unit and the intensive care unit.

PeriAnesthesia nurses have identified concerns regarding the increasing use of the Phase 1 postanesthesia care unit (PACU) for the care of surgical and nonsurgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients when ICU beds are not available in the facility.